€6k damage to Mountain Rescue equipment on Reek Sunday

BY COLM GANNON Mayo Advertiser, Fri, Jul 31, 2015

Croagh Patrick, Murrisk

Mayo Mountain Rescue, the voluntary organisation which responds to hundreds of call outs each year from people in distress or injured on mountains around the county, is currently counting the cost of last Sunday's annual Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage.

The weather destroyed the organisation's €4,000 medical tent completely and its welfare tent located at the base on the day was also damaged by the high winds, with in the region of €6,000 worth of damage being caused to their vital equipment. The terrible weather on the mountain saw the official pilgrimage called off, but hundreds of pilgrims ignored the warnings and still climbed the mountain, with the rescue team taking 12 injured people off the mountain.